About the breed
The Burmilla was not the result of a planned breeding programme but of an accidental meeting between two cats — the outcome is a breed with a shaded, silver-dusted coat and a temperament that blends Burmese liveliness with Persian calm.
Born by accident in 1981
The Burmilla arose entirely by accident in England in 1981, when a lilac Burmese female and a Chinchilla Persian male mated unplanned in the home of Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg. The four silver-shaded kittens from that litter were so appealing that a deliberate breeding programme soon began, and the first standard was written in 1984.
Looks: a silvered coat and dark-rimmed eyes
The breed's signature feature is a shaded or tipped coat, in which the hair tips are coloured while the roots stay silver, giving the impression of a cat dusted with silver powder. Dark-rimmed eyes, nose and lips add to this striking look.
Temperament: a balanced blend of two heritages
The Burmilla is considered one of the more balanced cat breeds — sociable and curious, but not as loud or demanding as the Burmese it is partly named after. That moderation lets it cope well with apartment living and suits first-time cat owners too, provided it gets enough play and company.
Early sexual maturity calls for a timely chat with the vet
The Burmilla is known for reaching sexual maturity relatively early, so it is worth agreeing a suitable time for spaying or neutering with a vet in the first few months. This is not an obstacle for beginners, but it is something better known in advance than discovered too late.
Family life and other pets
The Burmilla is considered a good family pet that, with a proper introduction, gets along well with children, dogs and other cats. It can be a little domineering toward more timid cats, which is worth keeping in mind when introducing new animals, though it does not make the breed unsociable.
Grooming: the shorthaired Burmilla and the semi-long Tiffanie
Brushing once a week is enough for the shorthaired variety, while the semi-longhaired version, known as the Tiffanie, is best brushed twice a week. The Tiffanie is in fact the same breed with the same temperament and colour range, registered under a separate name by the British GCCF — the only difference is coat length.
Health: a low but real risk of PKD
Because of its Persian ancestry, veterinary genetics laboratories place the Burmilla among the low-risk, not high-risk, breeds for polycystic kidney disease (PKD1). Responsible breeders still test parent cats by gene analysis or kidney ultrasound before using them for breeding.
Rarity and choosing a breeder
The Burmilla remains a relatively rare breed even outside the United Kingdom, so registered breeders often have a longer waiting list. When choosing a breeder, it is also worth checking the parents' PKD test results.
Temperament
gentle, playful, curious, sociable, affectionate
Suitable for
families with children, first-time owners and anyone who wants a sociable but easy-going cat
Living environment
flat or house with high perches, a scratching post and daily play
Grooming
brushing once a week, regular ear cleaning and dental care, balanced diet and weight control
Pros & cons
Advantages
gentle and adaptable with children and other pets, short coat needs very little grooming, stays playful into adulthood
Things to consider
still a rare breed and hard to find, dislikes long hours alone, can inherit polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Notes
The breed arose by accident in 1981 from a Burmese crossed with a Chinchilla Persian, and its first standard was written in 1984. The semi-longhair variety is registered by the British GCCF as the Tiffanie. Because a Persian sits in its ancestry, responsible breeders test the parents for polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
